Week 8 :: Finally Done--Thank you!!

Wow! I cannot believe I am finally done with this program! When I started eighteen months ago, I thought the end would come with a huge feeling of accomplishment and relief. Sadly, I am not feeling any of that. I think it will all hit me when I get confirmation that I actually have the diploma coming and that my MA-6 got full points! I also think this is a time of mourning  in a way as well. I will mourn the loss of all the homework that took up all of my free time and depleted my social calendar.

I feel drained and tired and spent. I know this will all wear off but right now, in this moment, it is hard for me to celebrate. I just celebrated my birthday last night (Oct 18) and I had to leave the dinner early to make sure I started on my last assignment on time in order to finish it, edit it and change it. I told myself that after this is all done I will celebrate...maybe that's what I need to do...get through this first and then BREATHE! Then celebrate!

Farewells/Thank Yous First
There are some people I would love to celebrate and thank.

First of all, DR TERI! For goodness sake! If it weren't for her I would have been a wreck. She was sop patient and supportive. I never felt as though my screw-ups were as major as I thought because she assured me they weren't. I was suffering through some medical issues during this course and could only bring myself to do so much work at a time. Dr. Teri's newsletters helped me go step by step and focus on one thing at a time...I was so grateful for those bits of organizational wisdom! The newsletters were a life saver for sure!

I would also like to thank and say goodbye to my colleagues who helped me during this course:
Jody Kruger
Karen Davis
Wendy Newby
Kaitlyn McPhillips
Stacie Phillips

Although I may not have commented on all of your blogs all of the time, or to your discussions, I did learn a lot from reading your thoughts and your experiences. I do wish to keep in contact with all of you so please please send me your contact info! My contact info is:

Kim Martin
teacher.kim2011@gmail.com

Three Deeply-Felt Learnings & Some Photos

I know I have felt so strongly about early childhood for a long time. I just never knew how much until I embarked on this journey. Why would anyone give up all their free time and social life for a degree? I did it because I am passionate about teaching children, and now, teaching adults how to teach children.
I feel deeply that my voice is just now beginning to be heard. I know that with the degree behind me, I have the credibility to finally be heard and that will be necessary to make things happen.

I also feel deeply about revamping the entire thought process about self-esteem. We need another way to look at building confidence in children. We need a new definition of self-esteem and we need to STOP focusing on that aspect of development. Instead, turn towards confidence. Rephrase the discussion and start teaching how to build confidence through self-control and independence.

Finally, I feel deeply that things in the field will never get beyond where they are as long as the government is paying the bills. We need more efforts from the private sector and more support from wealthy people/movie stars/philanthropists who champion efforts over seas. We need a more diverse dialogue in order to get the changes we need (fair wages, help for for-profit schools, etc). We need the support of the scientific community and the movers and shakers on Wall Street to devote their resources to funding endeavors that get over-looked.

Here are some photos of me with the kids as they celebrated my birthday in class on Thursday (I took my actual birthday off...it was Friday the 18th). We had a dance party and it was also Crazy Hair Day!! I bought glow wristbands for them so we turned off the lights and danced in the dark holding out hands in the air! It was a blast and it always reminds me why I do what I do...because I love it!

One long term goal

My one goal is to visit Jody in Qatar! Ever since I read about her life there and what she is doing there and how she has the resources to do so many great things, I want to go there and learn and work there! Hopefully she will still be there doing great work when I am ready to visit!

Thank you all again for helping me through this. I hope I was able to be of some help to some of you. I will be sure to keep in contact with you as well. We are in this together and forever bonded through the process. We shared something so important and special...no one else but us and others who came before us know what this feels like. The shared experience is amazing. I want to see how and where you go from here! The sky's the limit!

Week 6 :: International ECE Job Prospects

This was fun. I had already been researching jobs on Vancouver Island, British Colombia, because I have always wanted to move there.

I went to Vancouver Island University for my first search:
http://www.viu.ca/ce/courses/healthandhumanservices.asp#human-services
I found some jobs listings for adjunct faculty (the job I do now for night school) that looked like something I would like to do there. Unfortunately they have no openings. They just list the jobs. They have 3 campuses so that gives me options.

Another source was my friend's non-profit organization based in China. The program is called Manos International and what they do is hire teachers to go into poor cities in countries all over the world and help set up schools to teach the children who cannot get to other schools due to lack of funds or transportation, etc. Their popular program is the cultural education program.
http://www.manosintl.org/cultural-education-program.html
From the site:
The Cultural Education Program is Manos' core program, where volunteers bring enriching youth development activities to our community centers and sites themed on four countries each program year. The Program incorporates fun educational activities that build life skills, while teaching global and cultural awareness.  Over the years, we have studied more than 20 countries with the children we serve. Each country is hosted over a four week session where our Community Centers transform into the country being studied.  Children enter the Centers with their Manos "Passports"  and get an international traveling experience, brought directly to them at their community centers. Volunteers share the sights and sounds of four different countries through planned activities over four week for each country:

• General education about each country (such as geography, population, language, history).
• Arts & crafts themed on each country
•  Indoor and outdoor games, including sports from the four countries
• And, finally, each four-week session ends with a Cultural Party, where the community centers are further transformed for a grand finale event.

They always have teacher positions open and I have always wanted to help out with this wonderful organization.

Finally, I found UNJobs and they had this job listing that sounded interesting:
http://unjobs.org/vacancies/1378152763408

Tracking Code 302252-818 Job Description

This is a local position. Candidates must have legal authorization to work and currently reside in Kenya, to be considered for this position.

ChildFund Kenya is recruiting for the position of Program Manager and is seeking for a self motivated and dynamic individual to spearhead the implementation of one of its Early Childhood Development project in Nairobi and Coastal regions. The position will report to the Programs Director. The project's goal is 'Assuring the essential of optimal development of infants and young children affected by HIV and Aids'.

Working closely with the ECD Specialist, the Grants Coordinator, affiliated COs, and other stakeholders on the ground, the Program Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Lead and coordinate the development of Detailed Implementation Plans (DIP) and oversee implementation of the project activities in line with the approved plans
• Ensure plans are implemented according to approved budget and donor guidelines, and that ChildFund procedures and policies are adhered to at all times.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate project activities and use the information to improve project quality and implementation; and to pro-actively identify risks related to contract compliance and prescribe, implement and manage corrective action.
• Timely preparation and submission of quality progress reports that meet the organizations/donor requirements, as stipulated in the contract.
• Maintain accurate project records.
• Maintain staff technical proficiency and productivity.
• Document lessons learnt and best practices for experience sharing and replication.
• Ensure project staff adheres to the organisation's programming principles, procurement, administrative and financial policies.

Required Skills

• A Bachelors degree level qualification in Development studies or Social Sciences from a reputable University,
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and meet strict deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience implementing programs with Community Based Organizations.
• Team Player with excellent communication and community mobilization skills.
• High level of credibility and integrity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.
• Training and facilitation skills and experience are required.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.

Required Experience

• A minimum of 3 years experience in programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and donor contract management.

Job Location Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya Position Type Full-Time/Regular Salary 180,000.00 - 200,000.00 KES